leaned.
“I am free to attempt it. See?” laughed Adam, pointing out a small bruise on his forehead. “I am not so skilled as the Messengers.”
“Adam, the life and freedom that is yours, and all who are within you, are bound inside your relationship to Us. As long as we are face-to-face, you will have life and freedom easily and always.”
By the perplexed look on Adam’s face, Lilly could see that he was wrestling with a new thought. As he did, he grasped the branch beneath him and let himself tumble forward. He hung for a second before dropping lightly to the ground. Adonai was right behind, and Adam turned to Him.
“How could I ever not keep my face fully turned to Yours? My heart and soul and spirit have life only by dwelling in You. How could I . . . ever . . . ?”
God gently reached around His son, embracing him.
“Love takes risks, dear one. You have the freedom to say no to Us, no to Love, to turn your face away.”
Adam frowned. “And if I did such a thing, what would happen?”
“In turning you would find within yourself a shadow. This darkening would become more real to you than I am. From then, until you re-turned your face to Mine, this empty nothingness would deceive you about everything, including who We are to you, and who you are to all creation.”
“Is there a name for such a shadow, a name for such a turning?” Adam asked, only a few inches from the Oneness he loved.
“It does not deserve a name,” whispered Eternal Man, “but it would be called death.”
Lilly felt as if a powerful and icy hand had gripped her chest and was slowly crushing it. She forced out words: “I know death. Eve, we have to warn Adam.”
Eve took her hand and squeezed. Lilly could feel warmth radiate out, confront, and then advance against the cold. Fury was carved into Eve’s creased brow.
Then Lilly heard the Voice, as close to her as thought: “Lilly, trust Me.” As quickly as it had arrived, the frigid clasp around her lungs released. She took a deep breath.
“I do not want death,” Adam whispered back. “Is death the opposite of life?”
“Life has no opposite, Adam. It has no equal. Life is Good. Life is Our nature.”
Adam pondered for a moment before asking, “Is there any of this death within me?”
Eternal Man grinned and gently touched the boy’s cheek. “No. Adam, there is no death in you, nor in any who are within you. Only life. Today and always you may eat of the Tree of Life, to breathe in and out My Spirit, face-to-face.”
Adam touched the hand that was on his cheek and chuckled. “You know how much I love the trees and the fruit You have created,” and then added in mock seriousness, “which I tend and keep, but not for any necessary purpose.”
Laughter filled the air, the joy of parents watching their child’s first tentative steps and discoveries. As evening descended, the light of God’s presence illuminated the area. Creator and created lingered in the fellowship of other-centered love.
Both the women cried silently as they watched this exchange of pure affection. Lilly didn’t know why Eve wept, but the girl wanted with every fiber of her being to run into the center of this love—yet the whisper of unworthiness anchored her to the ground and wouldn’t let her move, once more taking her voice away and leaving her numb. Such joy was something she could never have.
Finally the young man said, “I only want to know life, to be face-to-face!”
“Adam, you are in the rest of Those Who Know you completely and love you fully. Simple trust is your participation. Hear My word each day and I will tell you the Good. This is neither command nor toil. It is easy and light.”
“And what is Your word for me today?” he asked.
“My word is necessity and in this day of rest is this: you may freely eat from any tree in Eden’s garden, especially from the Treeof Life that is at the center of the garden. But for now there is the one tree, which I have
“I am free to attempt it. See?” laughed Adam, pointing out a small bruise on his forehead. “I am not so skilled as the Messengers.”
“Adam, the life and freedom that is yours, and all who are within you, are bound inside your relationship to Us. As long as we are face-to-face, you will have life and freedom easily and always.”
By the perplexed look on Adam’s face, Lilly could see that he was wrestling with a new thought. As he did, he grasped the branch beneath him and let himself tumble forward. He hung for a second before dropping lightly to the ground. Adonai was right behind, and Adam turned to Him.
“How could I ever not keep my face fully turned to Yours? My heart and soul and spirit have life only by dwelling in You. How could I . . . ever . . . ?”
God gently reached around His son, embracing him.
“Love takes risks, dear one. You have the freedom to say no to Us, no to Love, to turn your face away.”
Adam frowned. “And if I did such a thing, what would happen?”
“In turning you would find within yourself a shadow. This darkening would become more real to you than I am. From then, until you re-turned your face to Mine, this empty nothingness would deceive you about everything, including who We are to you, and who you are to all creation.”
“Is there a name for such a shadow, a name for such a turning?” Adam asked, only a few inches from the Oneness he loved.
“It does not deserve a name,” whispered Eternal Man, “but it would be called death.”
Lilly felt as if a powerful and icy hand had gripped her chest and was slowly crushing it. She forced out words: “I know death. Eve, we have to warn Adam.”
Eve took her hand and squeezed. Lilly could feel warmth radiate out, confront, and then advance against the cold. Fury was carved into Eve’s creased brow.
Then Lilly heard the Voice, as close to her as thought: “Lilly, trust Me.” As quickly as it had arrived, the frigid clasp around her lungs released. She took a deep breath.
“I do not want death,” Adam whispered back. “Is death the opposite of life?”
“Life has no opposite, Adam. It has no equal. Life is Good. Life is Our nature.”
Adam pondered for a moment before asking, “Is there any of this death within me?”
Eternal Man grinned and gently touched the boy’s cheek. “No. Adam, there is no death in you, nor in any who are within you. Only life. Today and always you may eat of the Tree of Life, to breathe in and out My Spirit, face-to-face.”
Adam touched the hand that was on his cheek and chuckled. “You know how much I love the trees and the fruit You have created,” and then added in mock seriousness, “which I tend and keep, but not for any necessary purpose.”
Laughter filled the air, the joy of parents watching their child’s first tentative steps and discoveries. As evening descended, the light of God’s presence illuminated the area. Creator and created lingered in the fellowship of other-centered love.
Both the women cried silently as they watched this exchange of pure affection. Lilly didn’t know why Eve wept, but the girl wanted with every fiber of her being to run into the center of this love—yet the whisper of unworthiness anchored her to the ground and wouldn’t let her move, once more taking her voice away and leaving her numb. Such joy was something she could never have.
Finally the young man said, “I only want to know life, to be face-to-face!”
“Adam, you are in the rest of Those Who Know you completely and love you fully. Simple trust is your participation. Hear My word each day and I will tell you the Good. This is neither command nor toil. It is easy and light.”
“And what is Your word for me today?” he asked.
“My word is necessity and in this day of rest is this: you may freely eat from any tree in Eden’s garden, especially from the Treeof Life that is at the center of the garden. But for now there is the one tree, which I have
Similar Books
